1 Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS) is a register of Aboriginal objects and places (tangible) managed by the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH). Under the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974, there is an obligation to register objects and places identified to the AHIMS under the OEH Code of Practice for Archaeological Investigation of Aboriginal Objects in New South Wales.
Yuli
Photo by: Christine Slabb of Get Creative
4 How has the mapping been prepared?
Aboriginal cultural heritage information series
Tweed Shire Council
This fact sheet explains how Aboriginal cultural heritage has been considered and mapped
October 2017
Acknowledgment of Tweed’s Aboriginal community and knowledge holders
As part of the development of the draft Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan 2017 (ACHMP) members of the Aboriginal community have openly shared an appropriate level of their cultural knowledge to both assist the wider community understanding of their cultural heritage and to ensure the protection of remaining cultural heritage is a key consideration as part of any development process in order to minimise harm to Aboriginal cultural heritage.
This sharing of knowledge significantly entrusts that the knowledge will be used respectfully and sensitively by both Council administering how this knowledge is used and by the development industry and wider community using this information.
A key component of the understanding and consideration of Aboriginal cultural heritage is mapping which aims to assist both the Aboriginal community’s and the wider community’s cultural understanding of known and predictive Aboriginal cultural heritage.
How has the mapping been prepared?
Preparation of the mapping has been based on review,
assessment and ground truthing of sites currently registered to the Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS)1, the Bundjalung Mapping project and other documented resources, community held knowledge, review of landscape characteristics within the context of traditional Aboriginal settlement, resources, pathway, cultural and spiritual practices.
Mapping has been developed through extensive consultation with the Tweed’s Aboriginal communities and has taken a landscape approach based on identified key criteria.
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What is a landscape based approach?
It is important to recognise and understand that Aboriginal objects do not occur in isolation across a landscape; they are tangible connecting evidence of how Aboriginal people settled, lived and used the land’s resources over vast periods of time.
Landscape characteristics greatly influence how Aboriginal people interacted (and continue to interact) with their surroundings.
Therefore, understanding the geology, type of terrain and its natural resources is essential to understanding the nature and complexity of a cultural landscape.
Traditional Aboriginal people living and moving within their country maintained a preference for certain types of landforms and resource locations which can still be identified in contemporary landscapes.
Mapping has been developed based on this understanding.
What are the key criteria assessed?
The mapping assessment evaluated ten key criteria, including:
7. Indigenous oral sources and community knowledge - Information provided by Elders and knowledge holders that identifies sites and places.
8. Documented sources - Including historic records and references of a cultural place and/or practice at an identified location.
9. Resource hotspot - the presence of biological and/or geological resources, including stone resources for artefacts or grinding; areas where particular plants grow, or were present in paleo periods; within 200m of waters, including any river, stream, spring, lagoon, lake, swamp, wetland, natural watercourse, or tidal waters.
10. Elevated point for observation - Identified high points in the landscape that are suitable for observation of surrounding land and may provide a point of alignment between known cultural sites and places, such locations are situated on a ridge top, ridge line or headland.
11. Suitability for open campsite - Important considerations for open campsites include aspect, level terrain, ridgeline plateaus or saddles, proximity to a source of fresh water (especially springs), and proximity to a particular food resource including in paleo periods.
12. Nomination of traditional preferred access route -
Identification of a preferred pathway for movement, often along a ridge top, ridge line, or adjacent to watercourses.
Example of a resource hotspot:
Ochre grinding dishes in sandstone – Mebbin
Source: Ian Fox
Example of a ochre quarry - Springbrook
Source: Ian Fox
Border Ranges to Wollumbin Source: Ian Fox
Border Ranges to Springbrook Source: Ian Fox
Understanding the landscape elements for suitable campsites - Pottsville
Source: Ian Fox
Kunghur open campsite with artefacts present
Source: Ian Fox
Example: Watershed pathway route from Billinudgel to Wollumbin (Mt Warning)
Source: Ian Fox
Example: Same pathway route from Wooyung to Wollumbin overlaid on satellite imagery
Source: Ian Fox
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7. Location for specific cultural practice - Locations with a higher probability for a specific cultural practice (eg ceremony, djurbihl, etc) due to relationships with topographic or landscape features.
8. Proximity to a known cultural site - Strategic proximity to known cultural sites, for example, the nearby presence of recorded sites from AHIMS.
9. Presence of unique landform - Features such as an escarpment, cave, rock shelter, waterhole, waterfall, water source, or geologic outcrop; for a distance of up to 200m, above, below, or around the feature.
10. Cultural exploitation of ancient landscapes - Different climatic conditions in the past formed paleo-landscapes which can be identified as old stream channels, oxbow lakes, lagoons, swamps, or ancient sand dune systems resulting from sea level changes and coastal realignment.
What are the mapping layers?
Mapping has been further defined into two layers: Aboriginal Place of Heritage Significance (known) and Predictive Aboriginal cultural heritage.
Aboriginal place of heritage Significance
This layer provides spatial data and information of known Aboriginal cultural heritage (ACH) and may comprise tangible and intangible ACH as well as damaged and destroyed sites. The inclusion of damaged and destroyed sites is in recognition of their significance to the Aboriginal people and recognition that they may also form part of a wider cultural landscape.
Predictive Aboriginal cultural heritage
The predictive mapping layer is developed on the high probability of ACH being present based on meeting a minimum of three of the ten landscape mapping criteria. This also reflects the landscape context.
Unmapped
It is important to note that an unmapped area does not automatically mean there is no presence of Aboriginal cultural heritage as the potential for ACH remains.
Pooningbah or Fingal Causeway, Fingal Head
Source: Rob Appo
Rock shelter Commissioners Creek Source: Ian Fox
Ancient dune crest Cobaki Lake Source: Ian Fox
Byron Bay c 1960 showing ancient paleo shorelines
Source Ian Fox Coowarragum (now known as
the Pinnacle) is an important ceremonial location in Tyalgum Source: Ian Fox
Stone cairn Nobbys Creek Source: Ian Fox
Wooyung Borra Ring - an AHIMS registered site
Source: Ian Fox
Midden site Wooyung Source: Ian Fox
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How do I find out more?
See the discussion in Part B of the draft Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan 2017 (ACHMP).
Further information may also be found through the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) website:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/licences/achregulation.htm and through the following OEH Publications:
• Due Diligence Code of Practice for the Protection of Aboriginal Objects in NSW (2010)
• Guide to Investigating, Assessing and Reporting on Aboriginal Cultural Heritage in NSW (2011)
• Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Consultation Requirements or Proponents (2010)
• Code of Practice for Archaeological Investigation of Aboriginal Objects in NSW (2010)
• Applying for an Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit:
Guide for Applicants (2011)
• Guide to Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit Processes and Decision-making (2011)
• How the Aboriginal Heritage System Works (2012)
Byrill Creek Photo by: Ian Fox
